Apparatus for assembling sealing pads in receptacle closure caps



Dec. 6, 1938. JIQHNSON 2,138,923

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SEALING PADS IN RECEPTACLE CLOSURE CAPS Filed March 24, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR.

J. F. JUH/V Dec. 6, 1938.

APPARATUS FOR J. A. JOHNSON 2,138,923

ASSEMBLING SEALING PADS IN RECEPTAGLE CLOSURE CAPS Filed March 24, 1937 l0 Sheers-Sheet 2 air/L QM) ATTOR EY.

Dec. 6, 1938 J. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SEALING PADS IN RECEP'IACLE CLOSURE CAPS Filed March 24, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. v JJiJUfi/VS U/V ATTO EY.

Dec. 6, 1938. J JOHNSON I 2,138,923

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SEALING PADS IN RESEPTACLE CLOSURE CAPS- Filed March 24,1937 1O Sheets-Shget 4 INVENTOR.

LJHJUH/VEU/V W 4%" m m Dec. 6, 1938. J. A. JOHNSON 2,138,923

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING YSEALING PADS IN REGEPTAOLE CLOSURE CAPS Filed March 24, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATT RNEY.

Dec. '6, 1938. J. A. JOHNSON 2,138.923 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SEALING PADS IN RECEPTACLE CLOSURE CAPS Filed March 24, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Bun/0 mNN NN vm INVENTOR. H/VEU/V W a.

A ORNEY.

Dec. 6, 1938. J. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SEALING PADS IN REGEPTACLE CLOSURE CAPS Fi led March 24, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

Dec. 6, 1938. A, JOHNSON 2,138,923

IN RECEPTACLE CLOSURE CAPS APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SEALING PADS Filed March 24, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. JUHA SU/V 8 am Q N N mQN 9N m @3 J. QQ 3N l Q Q vNLIN N MMW v3 mmN wN NmN mN mfi o e M\ k mug E w w H R; IN Q m o 3 Q 7 N w L m 3 mNN RN a x rm EN mb 1 n- R3 QNRN Q In h 0 0 .m

Dec. 6, 1938. J. A. JOHNSON Filed March 24, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 I BY k Dec. 6, 1938.

J. A. JOHNSON 2,138,923 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SEALING P'ADS IN RECEPTACLE CLOSURE CAPS Filed March 24, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR.

. ATTO EY.

Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SEALING PADS IN RECEPTACLE CLOSURE CAPS John A. Johnson, Woodhaven, N. Y. Application March 24, 1937, Serial No. 132,728

21 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for assembling sealing pads in the form of disks of cork, cork compositions or other suitable material, such as paper, in receptacle closure caps, particularly of the type known as crown caps, wherein the sealing pads are adhesively secured in the closure caps under heat and pressure, and it is the principal object of the invention to provide apparatus of this character which will assemble double the quantity of sealing pads in closure caps in a predetermined period of time than it is possible to assemble with the apparatus now in commercial use.

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus for assembling sealing pads and the like in receptacle closure caps embodying a series of continuously traveling carriers for closure caps and each carrier having means associated therewith operative during the continuous travel of the carriers to feed closure caps to the carriers, deposit adhesive into the successive closure caps, heat the closure caps torender the adhesive viscous, and in successive sequence feed and assemble sealing pads in the closure caps,

and the provision of unitary means traveling continuously relative to the carriers to receive closure caps 'having sealing pads assembled therein from the respective carriers and place the sealing pads under pressure to eflect an intimate adhesive bond between the sealing pads and closure caps.

In the present commercial type of apparatus for assembling sealing pads in closure caps, it has been the common practice to deposit liquid adhesive in the closure caps by a nozzle of an adhesive carrying container movable toward and away from the closure caps and said nozzle being normally closed by a valve having a stem projecting from the nozzle adapted to engage a closure cap during the movement of the container toward said closure cap and open the nozzle thereby depositing adhesive in the closure cap. Should the apparatus be stopped with the nozzle valve projection in engagement with a closure cap and the valve in open position, the adhesive vwill continue to flow until the nozzle is moved ,away from the closurepap by placing'the apparatus in operation or until the supply of adhesive is exhausted.

To overcome this disadvantage of the present use of the adhesive depositing means, it is another object of the invention to provide means actuated by the means controlling the operation of the apparatus to engage and move the nozzle in position-away from the closure caps to permit the valve to close the nozzle when the means controlling the operation of the apparatus is actuated to stop the apparatus.

In the apparatus constituting the invention of the present application, the closure caps are transported past the discharge nozzle of an adhesive applying device continuously, and it is a further object of the invention to provide means to actuate the adhesive applying device in a continuous circular path to prevent the engagement of the nozzle thereof in a closure cap 'interrupting the continuous movement of the closure caps.

Another object oi the invention is to arrange the driving connections of the diiierent operating means of the apparatus to permit ready access to the same for the purposes of adjustment and replacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to feed closure caps to the apparatus having a minimum number of movable parts and which will prevent the closure caps jamming and injuring the carriers for the closure caps.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel means for transferring sealing pads to a series of plungers for engaging the sealing pads in the closure caps which will reduce the number of movable parts and assure a positive feeding and assembling of the sealing pads in the 'closure caps without injuring the sealing pads.

It-is a further object of the invention to provide a novel arrangement of pressure applying means to place the sealing pads under pressure in the closure caps to effect an intimate adhesion of the sealing pads to the closure caps which permits the doubling of the number of closure caps assembled within a predetermined time.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel means for discharging assembled closure caps from the pressure applying means which will assure a continuous discharge oi closure caps and which willarot interrupt the continuous assembling of sealing pads in the closure caps.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a single actuating means to prevent the depositing of adhesive in the closure caps and the heating of the closure caps, and stop the feeding of the closure caps and sealing pads.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully disclosed and pointed out hereinafter.

The embed-ment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a series of closure cap carriers consisting of a .pair of continuously rotating tables having a series of seats for releasably supporting closure caps and adapted to position said seats successively relative to means to engage closure caps therein, means to deposit and spread adhesive in the closure caps supported in the seats, means 'to heat the closure caps and render the adhesive therein viscous, and means to feed sealing pads in vertical alinement with the closure caps having viscous adhesive therein and engage the sealing pads in the closure caps in contact with the. viscous adhesive therein, and a double annular series of pressure applying plungers mounted toreciprocate relative to and movable with a pair of 010- sure cap supporting shelves rotatable between the pair of closure 'cap supporting tables with a pee ripheral portion of one of said shelves extending below the closure caps having sealing pads therein supported in the seats of one of the pair of tables and a peripheral portion of the other shelf extending below the closure caps having sealing pads therein supported by the seats 01 the other table whereby the closure caps having sealing pads therein supported by both tables in superposed relation to the shelves are simultaneously moved from the tables to and retained on the shelves by the plungers and subsequently the sealing pads in said closure caps on the shelves are placed under pressure for the greater part of the revolution of the shelves by the plungers to effect an intimate adhesion between the sealing pads and closure caps and until the plungers are positioned from the closure caps when the closure caps having the intimately adhering sealing pads therein are positioned'by the rotation of the shelves relative to'abutments whichremove and guide said closure caps from the shelves onto chutes leading to a shelf extending below and traveling with the pair of shelves adapted to receive and transfer the closure caps having intimately adhering sealing pads therein in a double row to a pair of channels extending from said shelf to a pair of cochleary channels superposed to a rotatable table having an axial discharge opening and mounted with a peripheral portion adjacent a peripheral portion of the shelf below the pair of channels to receive closure caps from saidshelf, The pair of cochleary channels are adapted to guide the closure caps on said table toward the discharge opening thereof. The means to engage closure caps in the seats of the pair of rotating tables comprises a' rotatable disk mounted adjacent a peripheral portion of each table of the pair of tables and rotating from a source of supply. of closure caps toward the tables to convey the closure caps in a channel leading from the source of supply to the seats in the tables and relative to means to yieldingly urge the closure caps in. the seats and permit the closure caps which have not been properly positioned in the seats to remain on; the disk and be transported by the disk fron'rthe tables. The means to deposit and spread adhesive in the closure ca positioned in the seats comprises a carrier for a container for liquid adhesive having a discharge outlet at the lower end controlled by a valve normally positioned'to close the outlet and adapted to be positioned to open the outlet by contacting a closure cap and a plunger spaced from the adhesive container to engage a closure cap having adhesive previously deposited therein by the container. The carrier for the container and plunger is positioned above the seats of each table of the pair of tables in sequence to the closure cap de livering disk relative to the rotation of the tables and actuated in a circular path toward and away from the closure caps in the seats whereby the depositing and spreading of the adhesive in the closure caps will not hinder the travel of the closure caps. Means are provided to engage the to be engaged by one of a series of ridges on the face of the disk and progressively moved by said ridge in conjunction with a cam face toward and in registry with an orifice of an annular series of .orifices in the disk adapted to be positioned successively by therotation of the disk in vertical alinement with the closure caps in the seats of each table of the pair of tables, and an annular series of spring influenced plungers traveling with the disk and mounted in alinement with and to have movement toward and away from the orifices of the disk and normally positioned away from the orifices to permit the positioning of the sealing pads in registry with the orifices and adapted to be permitted to move under the force of the springs into the orifices when the orifices are in vertical alinement with the closure caps in the table seats to engage and position the sealing pads in the closure caps with the pads in contact with the viscous adhesive therein. There are provided means to prevent feeding of sealing pads to position in vertical alinement with the closure caps comprising a pivoted lever having oneend portion yieldingly urged to position between the lower end of the sealing pad supporting tube and the sealing pad feeding disk and the opposite end portion of the lever operatively connected to means projecting in the path of travel of the closure caps in the table seats and adapted to be actuated by the engagement of a closure cap with said projecting means to position the first mentioned end of the lever from its normal position between the tube and disk and permit the depositing of sealing pads by the disk.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a view looking at the top of the apparatus forming the embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of-the left hand half of the apparatus shown in Figure l-taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

scale, of the right hand half of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 taken on the line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of an end portion of the apparatus looking at the left of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a view looking at the top of a section of the app ratus showing the disk for feeding and engaging closure caps in the seats of a table of the pair of tables with the channel partly broken away to show the engagement of closure caps in the seats, the adhesive container and plunger, and aportion of the annular series of pressure applying plungers and the shelves with portions broken away to show closure caps on the pair of shelves and the shelf extending below the pair of shelves.

Figure 6 is a sectional view, on a reduced scale,

taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the adhesive container and the plunger and showing means for imparting movement in a circular path to the carrier for the container and plunger toward and away from the closure cap carrying tables.

Figure 8 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 8-8 of Figure '7 looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing means engaging and preventing the adhesive container being moved toward the closure caps by the actuation of the carrier.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the adhesive container engaging means actuated to position out of engagement with the container to permit actuation of the container by the carrier toward the closure caps and depositing of adhesive therein.

Figure 10 is a view looking at the top of a portion of the apparatus including the disk for feeding sealing pads in vertical alinement with the closure caps in the table seats and the plungers for engaging the alined sealing pads in the closure caps, and showing the lever for preventing the feeding of sealing pads in the absence of closure caps in the seats in normal position between the sealing pad supporting tube and the disk, in full lines, and in dot and dash lines, in position to permit feeding of the sealing pads by the disk.

Figure 11 is a sectional view, on an reduced scale, taken on the line I I-I I of Figure 10 looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing a plunger engaging a sealing pad in a closure cap andthe driving connection of the disk with a power shaft. s

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view of the upper ends of the plungers for engaging sealing pads in the closure caps showing a cam arranged to permit the plungers to move toward and engage a sealing pad in a closure cap.

Figure 13 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line I3-I3 of Figure 10 looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing a sealing pad being engaged by a ridge of the sealing pad feeding disk and the cam face. I

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view of the portion of the double annular series of pressure plungers and pair of closure cap supporting shelves positioned to intersect the path of travel of the left hand closure cap supporting table, as shown in Figure 1, to show the progressive positions of the plungers mounted relative to the shelf extending below said left hand table wherein theplungers first engage the skirts .of the closure caps to remove the closure caps from the table and subsequently engage the sealing pads under pressure to intimately unite the sealing pads to the closure caps.

Figure 15 is a view looking at the top of a section of the apparatus embodying the 'pair of shelves for supporting closure caps relative to the pressure applying plungers, the shelf receiving closure caps having intimately adhering sealing pads from the pair of shelves, and the table for' discharging the closure caps from the apparatus and permit of inspection of said closure caps,

the pair of shelves being partially broken away to show the closure cap receiving shelf.

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on the line I6--I6 of Figure 15 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 17 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 14 looking at the portion of the double annular series of pressure plungers and their respective shelves positioned adjacent the right hand closure cap supporting table, as shown in Figure 1, to show the progressive positions of the plungers mounted relative to the shelf extending below the right hand table.

In carrying out the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

the operative mechanisms are supported on an elongated table T mounted at the opposite ends on standards S, and said mechanisms are actuated by a drive shaft I8 rotatably mounted to extend transversely of the table in bearing bosses I9 arranged on a standard of a pair of standards Sf on the table in superposed alinement with the standards S. On one end of the shaft I8 extending from a. bearing boss I9, a pulley wheel 20 is loosely mounted adapted to be driven from a suitable source of power, such as an electric motor,

not shown, by a belt 2|, and operatively connected to the shaft I8 by a clutch, as indicated in a general way at 22, having a member slidable on and rotatable with the shaft and actuated into and out of position to connect the pulley wheel with the shaft by shifting mechanism comprising a lever 23 pivotally mounted at one end on a bracket 24 fixed to a guard shield 25 for the pulley wheel supported by the standard S, the lever having a pin and groove connection with the clutch memher, as at 26 in Figure 4, adjacent said pivoted end,

with the opposite end having a pin and slot connection, as at 21, with a link 28 fixed on an end portion of a shaft 29 extending longitudinally of the table T and rotatably supported in bearings arranged on brackets fixed to and extending laterally from a side of the table T, as at 30. The

shifter lever may be actuated at different points along the length of the table T by hand grips or handles 3| fixed at convenientpoints on the shaft 29, as' illustrated in Figure 1.

Closure caps C of the crown type having outwardly flaring skirt portions are delivered to the apparatus from a pair of hoppers or a hopper, not shown, but which may be of the type disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 114,950, filed December 9, 1936, by chutes 32 of the usual construction, as shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6, having the discharge ends supported by arcuately shaped supports 33 (Figures 5 and 6) mounted on the table T at diagonally opposite side portions thereof, as shown in Figure 1. The discharge ends of the chutes extend in a substantially horizontal plane'over peripheral portions of a pair of disks 34 having a flat horizontal face and a hub portion extending from the opposite face fixed on one end of a shaft of a pair of shafts 35 V rotatably mounted in a bearing boss 36 arranged with one end abutting the discharge end of each chute 32 and of channel shape in cross section at said end portion thereof with a side wall of the channel extending around the periphery of the disks and of greater length than the other side wall of the channel, as at 38 in Figure 5. The closure caps are moved in the channel portions of the plates 31 away from the chutes 32 by the rotation of the disks ,34 and when the closure caps leave said channel portions they are moved laterally from the disks by an arm 39 having a bowshaped longitudinal edge and pivotally mounted at one end on the under face of each plate 31 adjacent the end of the shorter side wall of the channel portion to form a movable continuation of said side wall. The bow shaped edge is yieldingly urged in to the path of travel of the closure caps by a spring fixed at one end to the upper face of the plate 31 and; the other end fixed to the arm.

The closure caps are moved by the arms 39 under the force of the springs 40 into supporting seats of continuously travelling closure cap carriers or conveyers comprising arcuate recesses 4| arranged in equidistantly spaced relation to each other in the periphery of arcuate segments 42, as shown in Figure 5, of a number to form two complete rings, or the segments may be in the form of annular members, mounted in a recess, as shown at in Figures 2 and 3, in the peripheral portions of a pair of circular tables 43, 44 spaced apart longitudinally of the-table T, as shown in Figurel. In Figure 5, there is shown the manner in which the closure caps are prevented from jamming on the closure cap feeding disks 34 if they are not properly positioned to engage the arcuate recesses 4|, by the improperly positioned closure caps, shown in dot and dash lines, forcing the arms 39 against the force of the springs 40 into the dot and dash line position, which will permit the jammed. closure caps to be transported away from the recesses 4| by the rotation of the disks 34.

The tables or carriers 43, 44 are rotatably mounted so that a peripheral portion with the arcuate recesses 4| travels between. the disks 34 and the plates 31, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, by arranging each table with a hub 46 adapted to be fixed on a shaft of a pair of shafts 41 rotatably mounted at the lower end portions in bearings 48 supported by the table T on the longitudinal axis thereof intermediate the supports 33 and the opposite ends of said table T, with the opposite ends of the shafts rotatable in bearing bosses 49 arranged on a beam 50 supported at the opposite ends on flanges extended inwardly from the standards S, as at 5| in Figures 2 and 3. The hubs 46 of the tables 43, 44 are supported upon the bearings 43, the surface of the bearing 41 engaged by the hub 46 of the table 43 extending upward from the table T further than the surface of the bearing 48 engaged by the hub 46 of the table 44, so that the table 43 will extend in a higher horizontal plane than the table 44 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The discharge end of the chute 32, the disk 34- and plate 31 mounted relative to the table 44 will be nearer to the table T than the discharge end of the chute 32, the disk 34 and plate 31 mounted relative to the table 43, for the reason that the table 44 is nearer the table T than the table 43.

The closure caps C are retained in the seats 4| during the continuous travel of the tables 43, 44 by arcuate plate segments 94 having elongated openings 95 adjacent the inner edges thereof and mounted on arcuate shaped rails 96 extending along the peripheral portions of the plates 94 and supported by brackets 91 fixed to the upper surface of the table T to position the rails 96 to extend around the peripheries and in the planes of the tables 43, 44 to prevent movement of the closure caps from the seats 4| in a lateral direction and position the plates 94 above the seats 4| for the closure caps with the openings 95 exposing the interior of the closure caps and the portions of the plates 94 bordering the opposite sides of the openings extending over the flaring skirts'of the closure caps to permit the applying of adhesive in the closure caps while at the same time preventing movement of the closure caps from the seats in an upward direction. Anend of each of the arcuate shaped rails 96 forms an abutment to engage and limit the movement of the arms 39 toward the seats ing adhesive to the containers through a coupling member 54 secured to one end of the container and an outlet opening for the discharge of adhesive from the container through a nozzle member 55 arranged with a restricted discharge orifice removably mounted in the opposite end of the container. The adhesive is delivered to the containers 52 from a source of supply, not shown, through a flexible conduit 56 connected to the inlet opening 53 by a nipple 51, as shown-in Figures 4 and 7. The discharge of adhesive through the nozzle 55 is controlled by a valve in the form of a rod or stem 58 of greater length than the container 52 and slidably supported at the opposite ends in a an opening in the closed end of a portion of the coupling member 54 axially of the container, as at 49, and in the restricted portioh of the nozzle 55. The end of the rod supported in the nozzle is of conical shape to engage the wall about and close the discharge orifice of the nozzle, as at 60 in Figures 8 and 9, and has a needle projection 6| adapted to extend through the discharge orifice. The conical end 60 of the valve is yieldingly positioned to normally close the discharge orifice by a spring 62 coiled around the rod and confined between the plug 59"and a collar 63 fixed on the rod at a point above the inlet open-e ing 53 in the nozzle closing position of the valve to prevent accumulation of adhesive on the spring, which would affect the action of the spring. To facilitate the sliding movement of the rod valve 53 it is maintained in alinement with the supports therefor by an enlarged portion on the rod adjacent the conical end 69' of less diameter than the inner diameter of the nozzle 55, the enlarged portion having radially extending vanes to engage the inner wall of the nozzle 55, as at 64- in Figure 8. The lower end of the rod valve 58 is arranged with longitudinal grooves extending from the guide 64 to the conical end, as indicated in dotted lines at 65 in Figures 8- and 9 to permit the flow of adhesive to the discharge orifice. Each of the containers 52 are slidably mounted in a carrier comprising a member 66 (Figures 7 and 8) having perforated ears 61 extended from the opposite ends thereof and a pair of semicircular recesses 63, 69 (Figure 5) in a face thereof, the recess 68 having a greater radius than the recess 69 and slightly greater than the radius of the containers 52, and a clamping plate 10 having recesses in a face thereof corresponding to the recesses 68, 63 and releasably mounted on the member 66 by a stud flxed in and extending from said member plug screw threaded into 65 and through an opening in the plate 19 and a wing nut engaged on the end of the stud extending from the plate 19, as at II. The corresponding recesses 69 in the member 66 and plate I9 form a circular slideway for the containers 52 which are retained in said slideways by a split collar I2 clamped on each .container above the member 66 and plate I9 and adapted to abut said member and plate under the force of a spring I3 coiled around each container and confined between the member 66 and plate I9 and an exterior shoulder I4 arranged on each container above the nozzles 55. By this arrangement of parts, longitudinal movement may be imparted to the containers independently of the carriers 66, I9 therefor, and the needle projections 6| are yieldingly engaged with and moved by the closure caps traveling past the containers 52 by the downward movement of the carriers 66, I9 being imparted to the containers through the springs 13. To impart movement to the containers 52 toward and away from and deposit adhesive in closure caps without affecting the continuous travel of the tables 43, 44, a continuous circular movement is imparted to the carriers 65, 19 in the direction of travel of the tables 43, 44 by pivotally connecting the ears 61 of the carrier members 66 eccentrically of pairs of wheels I5, with each wheel of a pair of wheels rotatably mounted in horizontally spaced relation to the other wheel of said pair of wheels by fixing the wheels on a stud shaft I6 rotatably mounted in diverging extensions H of a pair of brackets I8. The brackets 18 are mounted on opposite sides of the beam 59, each of the brackets being in line with a shaft 41, as shown in Figure 1. The wheels I5 are rotated continuously from the drive shaft I8 through a shaft I9 rotatably mounted at the opposite end portions in bearings arranged on the standards S, as at 89 in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and at intermediate portions thereof in bearings 8| mounted on the beam 59. The shaft I9 is operatively connected to the drive shaft I8 through a bevelled pinion 82 fixed on an end of the shaft I9 meshing with a bevelled pinion 83 fixed on the drive shaft I8, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, and the shaft 19 is retained against longitudinal movement by the hub of the pinion v 82 abutting one side of a bearing 89 and a collar 84 fixed on the shaft 19 abutting the opposite side of said bearing, as shown in Figure 2. The rotation of the shaft I9 is imparted to the wheels I5 by bevelled pinions 85 fixedon the shaft adjacent the opposite ends and each pinion meshing with a bevelled v gear 89 fixed on a shaft 81 rotatably mounted in a bearing of a vertical extension I8 of the brackets 18 (Figure 2) and the opposite end of each of said shafts 81 carrying a sprocket wheel 88 operatively connected to a wheel 99 fixed on a stud shaft 9| rotatably mounted in a bearing at the fork of the diverging extensions 11 by a. sprocket chain 89 engaged around the sprocket wheels 88, 99. Each shaft 9| carries a gear 92 adjacent the sprocket wheel 99 meshing with a pair of gears 93 fixed on the stud shafts 16 of the wheels I5, so that the continuous rotation of the shaft 19 is imparted to the wheels 15 and circular movement is imparted to the carriers 66, III to momentarily move the rod valves 58 to open position by a rapid engagement of the projections 6 I with the closure caps.

The stopping of theoperation of the appa grip 3| to disconnect the driving pulley 29 from the drive shaft I8 may occur when the carriers 65, 19 are in their lowermost position with the valve projections SI'engaging the closure caps and unseating the valve faces 69 from the discharge orifices which will permit the discharge of adhesive until the supply of adhesive is exhausted or until the apparatus is placed in operation to position the needle projections 9| out of contact with the closure caps, as shown in Figure 8. To prevent this waste of adhesive and the consequent cluttering of the closure cap supporting seats 4| with adhesive, there are provided means to move and maintain the containers 52 in elevated position against the force of the springs I3 and the downward movement of the carriers 66, I9, comprising a pair of slide blocks 99 with each block having a projection I99 extending laterally from a face thereof and slidably mounted in a slideway arranged in a face of a bracket I9| mounted on the'peripheral portion of a segment of each guide plate 94 in line with the longitudinal axes of the adhesive containers 52 to permit the engagement of the blocks 99 below the exterior shoulders I4 of said containers. The projections I99 extend through a slot in the brackets I9I for the engagement of a finger I92 fixed to and extending from a boss I93 of a lever I95 pivotally mounted between leg portions I94 extending from the outer face of each bracket I9I. The fingers I92 are actuated to engage the projections I99 and lift the blocks 99 into engagement with the shoulders I4 and move the containers 52 to position the needle projections 6| out of engagement with the closure caps by the hand grips 3| through links I95 pivotally connected at one end to the bifurcated ends of the levers I96 which extends at approximately right angles to the fingers I92. The other ends of the links I95 are pivotally connected to arms fixed on the shaft 29 in line with the brackets I9I. It is to be noted that the link I95 mounted relative to the adhesive depositing means for table 43 extends transversely of the table T and the arm I91 associated with said link extends downwardly from the shaft 29, whereas the link I95 connecting the adhesive depositing means for table 44 extends to the adjacent peripheral portion of said table due to the position of the adhesive applying means for table 43 being on the side of the table T remote from the shaft 29 and the adhesive applying means for the table 44 being on the side of said table T adjacent the shaft 29, and the arm I91 associated with the link I95 positioned relative to the table 44 extends upwardly from the shaft 29 due to the different horizontal positions of the tables 43 and 44. Thearms I 91 are positioned on the shaft 29 to actuate the fingers I92 to permit the slide blocks 39 to drop to the plates 94 under the force of gravity and the downward movement of the containers 52, as shown in tion with the needle projections 6| spaced from' the closure caps, as shown in Figure 8, when the shaft 29 is actuated to disengage the driving pulley 29 from the drive shaft I8. The movement of the containers-52 in an upward direction by the fingers I92 regardless of the position of the carriers 96, I9 is possible due to the slidable mounting of the containers in said carriers.

, closure caps successively to the The engagement of the valve projections 6| with closure caps and thereby the subsequent opening of the nozzles 55 will deposit a spot of adhesive in each closure cap and it is desirable to the semi circular recesses 69 in the member 66 and plate 10 of each carrier for the adhesive containers 52, the lower end of each plunger being arranged of cup shape and having mounted therein a head of resilient material, such as rubber, as at I09 in Figure 7. The end of the plunger with the spreader heads I09 are yieldingly urged outwardly from the carriers 66, I0 by a spring |I0 coiled around each plunger between the bottoms of the carriers and the heads, and the plungers are retained in said carriers by a collar III fixed to a portion of each plunger extending above the carriers. Theheads I09 are engaged in depositing therein of a spot of adhesive by the circular downward movement of the carriers imparted to the plungers through the springs I I0.

Subsequent to-the depositing and spreading of adhesive in the closure caps in the seats 4| of the tables 43, 44, said closure caps are passed through a zone of elevated temperature to render the adhesive in said closure caps viscous created by heating elements extending above and below the travel of the closure caps of any suitable form and structure and which may comprise a series of longitudinal gas burners formed by'pairs of pipes I|2, arcuate direction, with the pipes II2 of each pair of pipes in a plane above the seats 4| of the tables 43, 44 and the pipes N3 of each pair of pipes in a plane below the seats of said tables, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The pipes are arranged with a series of orificesopposed to the seats 4| to direct the gas flames toward the tops and bottoms of the closure caps, as at 4 in Figures 2 and 3, to destroy foreign substances in the adhesive and render the adhesive viscous. The pipes 2 are supported above the seats 4| by brackets mounted on the plates 94 having an arcuate portion embracing-the upper half of said pipes, as at I I5, and the pipes II 3 are supported below the seats 4| by bifurcated members I I6 engaging said pipes and mounted at the ends of the bifurcations on the brackets 91, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The burner pipes II2, I I3 are connected in communication with vertical leads II 'I of a gas supply pipe H8. The supply of gas to the burner pipes II2, I I3 is controlled by a valve in the supply pipe II8, as indicated in a general way at H9 in Figure 1, actuated by the hand grips 3| through a rod I20 connected at one end to the valve by links I 2| and the opposite end of the rod pivotally connected to an arm I22 fixed on the shaft 29, whereby the disconnecting of 'the driving pulley 20 from the'drive shaft I8 will shut off the gas supply from the burner pipes II 2, H3; The gas supply pipe II8 extends for the length of the table T and is supported thereby by brackets I23 fixed at one end to a side of the table T with the opposite ends bent over the pipe H8 and secured in such position by bolts engaged in opposite parts of the brackets to extend transversely of the pipe 8, as-at I24-in Figure 4. The gas is automatically ignited at the burner orifices of the pipes 2, II 3, when the valve H9 is opened I I3 having portions extending in an by the actuation ofthe handles 3| by a pilot light supplied by pipes I25 having outlet ends termilength of the table T and supported by and secured to the brackets I23 by clamps embracing the pipes and fixed at the opposite ends to the brackets, as at I21. The supply of gas may be individually regulated to each of the burner pipes H2, 3 by manually operated valves interposed in the connection between said pipes and the vertical leads 1, as indicated at I28.

The burner pipes H2, H3 extend from a point in the travel of the closure caps subsequent to the adhesive spreader plungers to a point preceding means for assembling sealing pads P in the closure caps so that the adhesive in said closure caps is rendered fully viscous and tacky to assure an adhesion between the sealing pads and closure caps when the sealing pads are engaged in the closure caps in contact with the adhesive therein.

The sealing pads are of resilient material, such as composition cork, cork or paper, formed to disk shape and supported in stack formation adjacent the travel of the closure caps in the seats 4| of the tables 43, 44 by a pair of tubes I29 of slightly greater diameter than the sealing pads leading from a hopper, not shown, and supported at the lower ends in an opening in a pair of plates I30 mounted at marginal portions on brackets I3| (Figure 11) fixed to diagonally opposite side portions of the table T, the table I30 for supporting the tube I 29 supplying sealing pads to the closure caps supported and transported by the table 43 being substantially opposite the disk 34 for feeding closure caps to said table 43, and the plate for supporting the tube supplying sealing pads to the closure caps supported and transported by the table 44 being substantially opposite the disk 34 for feeding closure caps to said table 44. The under face of each of the plates I30 extends in spaced parallel relation to the tables 43, 44 and is arranged with a ridge I32 extending in an arcuate direction formed by undercutting the portions of the plates extending from the tubes I29 to intermediate portions adjacent the opposite ends of ,the plates so that the plates will be of two thicknesses, as clearly shown in Figure 13. The openings in the plates I30 for the mounting of the tubes I 29 are located at an end portion of each plate and the ridges I32 extend from said openingsto the opposite ends of the plates, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 10. The lowermost sealing pad in each of the tubes I29 is supported by a disk of a pair of disks I33 rotatably mounted to extend above the tables 43,

44 with peripheral portions extending between said tables and the plates I 30 by shafts I34 fixed at one end in a hub portion of each disk, as at I 35 in Figure 11, and the shafts extended through and rotatable in elongated sleeves or tubular members I36 having interior bearing surfaces at the oppositeends, as at I31, for supporting the tantly spaced from each other around and adjacent to the hub of the disk, and a series of ribs I42 projecting from the upper face of the, disk with each rib extending from the hub along peripheral portions of adjacent orifices and .then tangentially from one of said orifices to themriphery of the disk so that each orifice has a recess extending around theportion of the circum-' fe ence adjacent the hub of the disk, as at I43 i ,Figure 10, and having parallel walls extending tangentially from diametrically opposite portions of said orifice, as shown in dotted lines at I44 with one of said walls diverging from*the other 1 wall at a point intermediate the orifice and periphery of the disk, as at I45. The lowermost sealing pad in each tube is engaged by a rib I42 at the outer end portion thereof through the retation of each disk I33 and is moved by said rib along the ridge I32 and by the continued rotation of the disk the sealing pad is moved pro-' gressively along the rib I42 toward an orifice and is positioned in registry with said orifice by the recess portions I43 and I44. The plates I30 are spaced a distance above the disks I33 to have the undercut portions of the plates extend a slight distance from the sealing pads on the disks to permit movement of the sealing pads in horizontal planes and maintain said sealing pads in flat condition, and so that the upper halves of thesealing pads are engagedby theridge I32 and the lower halves of the sealing pads are engaged by the ribs I42, as shown in Figure 13. The shafts I34 are mounted relative to the tables 43. 44 to position the orifices MI in the disks I33 successively in vertical alinement with successive closure cap supporting seats M in the tables 43, 44 at points in the travel of said seats on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the table T, and the ridges I32 extend in an arcuate path eccentrically of the shafts I34 and progressively leading toward a point slightly in advance of the point in the travel of the orifices where said orificesare in vertical alinement with the closure cap supporting seats, as shown in Figure 10, at which latter point the sealing pads are in full registry with the orifices, so that the sealing pads will be positioned in registry with the orifices I4I prior to the positioning of the orifices MI in vertical alinement with the seats M.

The disks I33 are rotated in synchronism with the tables 43, 44 so that the successive orifices I4I of said disks will register with the successive closure cap supporting seats 4|. Rotation is imparted to the disks by the shaft 19 through a gear I46 fixed'on the upper end portion of each shaft I34 extending from the sleeve I36 and meshing with a pinion I41 rotatably mounted in bearings in a housing I48 mounted on the beam 59 relative to each of the brackets I39. The pinions I41 mesh witha pinion I49 fixed on a stud shaft I56 rotatably supported in each of the housings I48 and carries a bevelled gear II exteriorly of the housings meshing with a bevelled pinion I52 fixed on the shaft 19, as shown in Figure 11.

The sealing pads positioned'in registry with the orifices I4I of the disks I33 are engaged in the closure caps supported by the seats 4I positioned in vertical alinement with the orifices I4I having sealing pads registering therewith, by a plunger of a series of plungers I53 sidably supported by a carriage rotatable with each of the disks I33" and comprising a hollow conical member I54 rotatably supported on the lower portion of each of the sleeves l36and'fixedly connected sponding to the openings in the flanges I56 and I the orifices I4I, arranged in an annular member I58 engaged on a shoulder'arranged on each of the conical members I54, as at I59, and fixed to said conical members by a key, as at I60, so that the members I58 will rotate with the conical members I54 and the disks I33.- The plungers I53 are yieldingly urged to position with the lower ends thereof extending through the openings in the flanges I56 and disks I33 and in the closure caps supported by the tables 43, 44 'by a spring I6I coiled around each of the plungers and compressed between the under face of the annular members I58 and the opposite ends of pins I62 engaged in and projecting lateral y from the plungers I53 adjacent the lower ends thereof. To permit the registering of the sealing pads with the orifices MI by the ribs I42 and arcuate ridges I32, the lower ends of the plungers I53 are maintained in spaced relation to theorifices MI in the disks I33 by a cam comprising an annular member I63 having an arcuate shaped recess or indent in the upper "edge thereof, as at I64 in Figure 12, and supported from each of the conical members I54 with the indents I64 in position over that portion of the travel of the disks I33 at which the orifices I4I are in vertical alinement with the closure cap supporting seats 4 I, by angular meniber I65 having an opening in an angle portion to engage each of the tubular members I36 and the other angle portions extending parallely of the plungers I53 and connected to the annular members I63; as by a screw as shown at I66 in Figure 11, and by a pair of angle'brackets I61 mounted on a transverse member I68 of a member of a split collar I69 engaged on and clamped to each of the tubular members I36 below the angular member I65, as by bolts as indicated at I19 in Figure 10, and retained against rotation by a keyed connection with said tubular members, as at "I in Figure 11. The angular members I65 are retained against rotation by extending the keyed connections I1I of collars I69 with the sleeves I36 and connect ng said members to the collars I69. as by a screw as shown at I12 in Figure 11. The straight upper edge portions of the annular members I63 are adapted to support the plungers I53 in position above the disks I33 by engaging a roller I13 rotatably mounted on'a headed pin I14 fixed in and projecting laterally -from a fiat face of a pair of opposed fiat face portions arranged at the upper end of each of the plungers I53, as at I15. By the rotation of the conical members I54 imparted thereto by the shafts I34 through the d sks I33, the rollers I13 one end to the arm the seats 4|. The rollers I13 are maintained in contact with the annular members I63 by preventing the plungers turning in the annular members I58 and flanges I56 by engaging the flat face I15 opposite the flat face carrying the rollers I13 of each plunger with a slideway of a series of slideways I16 mounted in the upper end of an annular member I11 screw threaded onto the upper end of each of the conical members I54 and separated from the annular members I58 by annular shims having the peripheral portions engaging the flat faces of the plungers, as at I18 in Figure 11. The plungers are only momentarily in sealing pad engaging position as the lengths of the indents I64 are comparatively short relative to the circumference of the annular members I63, so that the continuous travel of the tables 43, 44 is not interrupted and the closure caps with the sealing pads in contact with the adhesive in said closure caps are transported by the tables 43, 44 away from the disks I33.

If there are no closure caps in the seats 4| of the tables 43, 44 positioned in vertical alinement with the orifices I4I of the disks I33, means are provided to prevent the feeding and registering of sealing pads in said orifices which will be positioned in vertical alinement with the seats 4| having no closure caps therein, thereby preventing waste of sealing pads.. Said means comprises a lever I19 pivotally mounted on a plate I supported by each of the plates I30, as at I8I, Figures 1, 10 and '13, and an arm of each of the levers I19 extending adjacent to said plates I30 and arranged with a blade portion I82 extending between the plates I30 and the disks I33 and normally positioned below the lower ends of the tubes I29 to engage the lowermost sealing pads in said tubes by a spring I83 attached at of each lever having the blade I82 and the opposite end attached to the plates I80, as shownin Figure 10. To move the blade portions I82 from the normal position shown in full lines in Figure 10 to position out of the path of discharge of sealing pads from the tubes I29, as shown in dot and dash lines in said Figure 10, there are provided means comprising a block I84 slidably mounted in a plate I85 mounted on each of the guiderails 96 adjacent to the plates I30 to position the blocks 84 relative to the closure cap supporting seats 4| that will be positioned in vertical alinement with the orifices I4I positioned to receive the lowermost sealing pads from the tubes I29. The blocks I84 are urged in position to engage closure caps in the seats 4| under the influence of the springs I83 by link connections having one link member lever I19 I86 pivotallyconnectedto the arm of each opposite the arm having the blade I82 and a link member I81 'pivotally mounted at one end on the plate I30, as at I88, with'the opposite end pivotally connected to the link member I86 and having a slot intermediate the ends engaging a pin fixed in and extending upwardly from each of the blocks I84, as shown at I89 in Figures 1 and 10, whereby by theengagement of the blocks I 84 by a. closure cap during the travel of the tables 43, 44, as shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 10, will actuate the link connections I86, I81 to position the blades I82 out of the path of discharge of the sealing pads from the tubes I29, as shown in'full lines in Figure 1 and in dot and dash lines in Figure 10.

After the sealing pads P are engaged in the closure caps C in contact with the adhesive therein, said closure caps are transported continu- .as shown in Figure 1.

ously from the disks I33 by the tables 43, 44 relative to means to remove the closure caps from said tables and apply pressure to the sealing pads while the closure caps, adhesive and the sealing pads are subjected to heat. Said means comprises a table I 90 having a hub portion fixed on a shaft 9| rotatably mounted at one end portion in a bearing boss I 92 arranged on the beam 50 in alinement with and interme diate the bearings 49 for the shafts 41 of the tables 43, 44 and the opposite end of the shaft I9| being rotatably mounted in a bearing I93 supported on the table T and having a circular recess in the upper end thereof for the engagement of the hub of the table I90with an interposed antifriction hearing, as at I94 in Figures 2, 3 and 16. The bearings I 92, I93 for the shaft I9I of the table I 90 are positioned on the beam 50 and table T, respectively, at a point nearer the bearings 49, 48 for the shaft 41 of the table 44 than the bearings 49, 48 for the shaft 41 of the table 43, so that the peripheral portion of'the table I90 will extend a greater distance relative to the peripheral portion of the table 44 than said peripheral portion of the table I90 will extend relative to the peripheral portion of the table 43, The table I90 is supported by the bearing I93 to stantially the horizontal plane of the table 43 which is in a higher plane than the horizontal plane of the table 4.4, so that the peripheral portion of the table I 90 will extend above the peripheral portion of the table 44. The peripheral portion of the table I 90 is arranged with an annular recess of angul r form in cross section to form a shelf I95 which is adapted to intersect and extend below the closure cap supporting 43 and engage the closure seats 4| of the table caps supported in said seats adjacent to and on the longitudinal axis of the table T, and after sealing pads have been engaged in the closure caps in contact with the viscous adhesive therein. The closure caps engaged by the shelf I95 are removed from the seats 4| and retained on the shelf I95 by a series of plungers I96 slidably mounted in equidistantly spaced relation to each other and orresponding to the spacing of the seats 4| of the table 43 by a pair of alined spaced annular members I91, I98 supported and carried by the table I90 by mounting the member I98 on an annular portion of the table I 90 adjacent the inner edge of the shelf I95, as at I99, and the member I91 being supported in spaced relation above the member I98 by spacers in the form of posts 200 fixed at the lower ends in the member I98 and the upper ends releasably engaged in openings in the member I91, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The diameters of the annular members I91 and I98 are equal and of such extent to position the peripheral portions thereof above the shelf I 95 with the member I98 forming with the 'shelf I95 an annular recess of greater height than plungers I96 are actuated to position the lower ends thereof out of the annular recess formed by the annular member I98 and shelf I 95 to permit the closure caps to be removed from and engaged on the shelf I 95. This actuation of the position said table in subplungers is accomplished by an arcuate rail 203 supported by the beam 50, as at 204 in Figure 2. The end portion of the rail which is forward relative to the rotation of the table I90 is of cam formation, as indicated at 205 in Figure 1, to engage rollers 206 rotatably mounted on pins 201 fixed in and extending laterally from the upper end portions of the plungers I96 and gradually move said plungers upward. The portion of the rail 203 succeeding the cam portion 205 extends in a higher horizontal plane to position the lower end portions of the plungers within the openings in the annular member I98, as at 208 at the right of Figure 14, and subsequent to the point where the seats 4| of the table 43 extend over the shelf I95, the rail 203 is reduced'in thickness, as at 209, which reduced portion permits the plungers to move under the force of the springs 20| toward the shelf I95 and position the lower ends of the plungers within the closure caps carried in the seats 4| of. the table 49 and positioned on the shelf I95 but not in engagement with the sealing pads in said closure caps, so that the closure caps may have rotary movement about the plungers to facilitate the removing of the closure caps from the seats 4| without marring the finish or decorations of the closure caps. The reduced portion 209 of the rail 209 terminates at a point subsequent to the removal of the closure caps from the seats 4| of the table 43 by the plungers to permit the plungers to engage and apply pressure to the sealing pads during the travel of the plungers with the table I90 from the terminating end of the rail 203 to the cam end 205 thereof where the plungers are removed from the closure caps by said cam end and the closure caps with intimate adhering sealing pads are removed from the shelf by an abutment plate 2I0 mounted on the guide rail 96 extending around the table 43 to extend above the shelf I95 and intersect the path of travel of the closure caps thereon.

To facilitate the intimate adhesion between the sealing pads and the closure caps supported by the shelf I95, the shelf is heated for a distance extending from the point where the table 43 I intersects the table I90 to adjacent the point where the table I90 intersects the table 44. The

means for heating the shelf I95 is shown as a gas burner in the form of a pipe 2 extending in an arcuate path. below the shelf I95 connected in communication with the gas supply pipe 8, as at 2I2, and having discharge orifices therein to direct the gas flame against the under face of the shelf I95. The burner pipe 2| I is supported from the table T by brackets 2I3 mounted on the table T and having a saddle portion at the upper end for the engagement of the pipe 2 and a clamping screw to releasably secure the pipe on said saddle portion, as shown at 2 in Figure 2.

The closure caps having sealing pads engaged therein in contact with the adhesive therein and supported in the seats 4| of the table 44, are positioned by the rotation of the table 44 above a shelf 2I5 extending laterally from the periphery of an annular member 2 I6 adapted to be mounted on the under surface of the table I90 directly below the inner edge of the annular member I98 supporting the plungers I96, with the shelf 2I5 in parallel spaced relation with the under surface of the table I90 and of less diameter than the diameter of the shelf I95 to engage the closure caps in the seats 4| where the table 44 intersects the table I90. A series of plungers 2II are slidably mounted in the annular members I9!, I90 in radial alinement with the plungers I96 and intermediate said plungers I96 and the shaft |9I with the lower end portions of the plungers 2 I1 slidable in perforations in the table I90 in vertical alinement with the shelf 2I5, as at 2I8. The lengths of the plungers 2" are greater than the lengths of the plungers I96 so that the opposite end portions of said plungers 2|I extend beyond the end portions of the plungers I96, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The plungers 2|I are urged in a direc tion toward the shelf 2I5 by springs 2|9 coiled under surface of the annular member I91 and ,the projecting ends of pins 220 engaged in the plungers to extend transversely thereof. The plungers 2|| are adapted to be lifted against the force of the springs 2I9 and be positioned in spacedrelatio'n to the shelf 2I5 and out of the path of travel of the seats 4| of the table 44, at a point in the travel of the table I90 preceding the point of intersection between the table 44 and table I90 by rollers 22I rotatably mounted on pins 222 fixed in and extending laterally from the upper end portions of the plungers 2" ex tending above the upper end portions of the plungers I96 to permit the rollers 22| to engage a cam portion 223 at one end of an arcuate ra l 224 supported at the opposite end on the beam 50, as at 225 in Figure 3. By the rotation of the table I90 the rollers 22I are successively engaged with a horizontal portion 226 of the rail 224 extending from the cam portion'223 to the point of intersection between the shelf 2I5 and the seats 4| of the table 44 to position the lower ends of the plungers 2" within the perforations2|8 of the table I90 and permit the closure caps having sealing pads therein to be positioned on the shelf 2 I 5 by the seats 4| of the table 44 in vertical alinement with the plungers 2". At the point of intersection between the tables 44 and I90, the rollers 22I travel down an inclined portion in the rail 224, as at 221 in Figure 1'2, onto a horiremove the closure caps from the seats 4| of the 7 table 44 and retain said closure caps on the shelf 2I5 without marring the finish of or decorations on the closure caps. The rail 224 terminates at a point in the travel of the table I90 where the closure caps are fully disengaged from the seats 4| of the table 44 to permit the plungers 2" to be moved by the force of the springs 2|9 into engagement with the sealing pads in the closure caps on the shelf 2I5 in which position the plungers remain until the rollers 22| are again engaged by the cam portion 223 of the rail 224, so that the sealing pads are placed under pressure in contact with the viscous adhesive in the closure caps for the greater part of a revolution of a table I90. To eifect intimate adhesion between the sealing pads and closure caps, the shelf 2I5 is heated by suitable heating means shown in the present instance as a gas heater comprising an arcuate extending pipe 229 mounted on the table T by brackets'230 fixed to the upper surface of the table and arranged with a clamping screw, as at 23| in Figure 3, to retain the burner pipe in alinement below the shelf'2 I5 and direct the gas flame against the under surface of said shelf. The

232 in Figures 1 and 2, and the opposite end ter- Inmates at a point adjacent the point of intersection between the shelf 2| 5 and the seats 4| of the table 44. The plungers I96 and 2I'| are guided to travel in vertical paths by an annular plate 232' mounted on the annular member I91 between the annular rows of plun'gers to engage fiat face portions of said plungers at the upper ends thereof, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The tables 43, 44 and I are rotated in synchronism with each other from the drive shaft I8 through a shaft 233 rotatably mounted at the opposite end portions in bearings 234 mounted on the outer face of the standard S supporting the drive shaft I8 to support the shaft 233 in vertical alinement with the shafts 41 and I9I. The shaft 233 is operatively connected to the drive shaft by a bevelled pinion fixed on the upper end of the shaft 233 meshing with a bevelled pinion fixed to the drive shaft I8, as at 235 in Figures 2 and 4, and the rotation of the shaft 233 is imparted to the table 43 by a pinion 236 fixed onthe lower end of said shaft meshing with a gear 23'! fixed on a stud shaft 236 rotatably mounted in a bearing supported by the table T, as at 239 in Figure 2. A pinion 240 is fixed on the stud shaft 236 meshing with a gear 2 fixed on the lower end portion of the shaft," supporting the table 43 which meshes with a gear 242 fixed on the lower end portion of the shaft I9I, whereby rotation is imparted to the tables 43 and I90 in opposite directions, the table 43 being rotated in anticlockwise direction and the table I90 in clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. The table 44 is rotated in the same direction as the table 43 by the table I90 gear 243 fixed on the hub portion of the gear 242, as at 244 in Figures 2 and 3, and meshing with a gear 245 fixed on the lower end portion of the shaft 41 supporting the table 44.

The disks 34 are rotated continuously in a clockwise direction by the table I90 through pin-- ions 246 rotatably mounted in bearings 241 supported from the table T at diametrically opposite points of the periphery of the table I90 and meshing with diametrically opposite portions of the gear 242 and a pinion 246 fixed on each of the shafts 35 of the disks 34, as shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6, so that the disks 34 will transfer the closure caps from the chutes 32 to the seats 4| of the tables 43, 44, and said tables will transport the closure caps from the disks 34.

To prevent injury to the operator and accumulation of foreign substances, the pinions 82, 83

and 235 and shaft 233 are enclosed in the standards S by a cover plate 249 releasably mounted on said standard, asshown in Figure 2.

The table 44 and its associated disk I33 are of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the table 43 and its associated disk I33 due to the fact-that shelf 2I5 is of less diameter than the shelf I and the plungers 2I| are closer together than the plungers I96. The greater diameter of the disk I33 which is associated with the table 44 requires a gear I46 of greater diameter than the diameter of the gear I46 connected to the disk I33 associated with the table 43, asshown in Figure 1. It also follows that there are a greater number of seats 4| in the table 44 and a greater number of orifices I and plungers I53 for the disk I 33 associated with the table 44.

The closure caps having intimately adhering sealing pads therein on the shelf 2I5 from which the plungers 2I'| have been released by the rail 224,

the shelf 252 is through a I table are removed from the shelf 2I5 by an abutment plate 250 which is similar to the abutment plate 2I0 and mounted on the guide rail 96 extending around the table 44 to extend over the shelf 2I5 and engage and guide said closure caps from the shelf by the rotation thereof. The abutment plates 2| 0, 250 guide the closurecaps from the shelves I95, 2I5, respectively, onto chutes 25I mounted on the table T at diametrically opposite points of the peripheries of the shelves I95, 2I5, with the upper end of one of said chutes arranged in front of the abutment plate 2|0 to receive closurecaps from the shelf I 95 and the upper end of the other chute being arranged in front of the abutment plate 250 to receive closure caps from the shelf 2I5, as clearly shown in' Figure 15. The lower ends of the chutes terminate relative to a shelf 252 arranged on the peripheral portion of an annular member 253 suspended from the table I90 by spacer members 254 having a stud portion at the upper ends engaged in the annular members I96, 2I5 and the table I90 and the spacing portions separating the annular member 253 from the annular member 2I6, so that the members I98, 2| 6 are secured to the table I 90, as at 255 in Figures 2, 3 and 16, and

positioned in spaced relation below the shelves I95, 2I5, as shown in Figure 16. The chutes 25I are mounted relative to the shelf 252 to direct the closure caps from the shelf I95 onto the outer edge portion of the shelf 252 and direct the closure caps from the shelf 2| 5 to the inner edge portion of the shelf 252, so that the closure caps will be transported in a double row by the shelf 252 through the rotation of the table I90. During the travel of the closure caps on the periphery of the shelf 252, as at 259, to maintain the outer row of closure caps on the shelf 252. The walls 256 extend from the shelf 252 to and over the peripheral portion of a circular table 260 having a tubular hub member 26| rotatably mounted in a boss 262 arranged in one end of an arm 263 fixed at the other end to the side of the table T in alinement with the shaft I 9|, as at 264 in Figure 15. The periphery of the table 260 is adjacent to the periphery of the shelf 252 to form a continuous support for the closure caps, and the table 26.0 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the shelf 252 which is the same as the table I90, so that 010-,

sure caps will travel from the shelf 252 to the 260 under the guidance of the walls 256. The table 260 is rotated continuously from the table I90 through a train of gears 265 rotatably mounted in bearings on the under face of the arm 263, as at 266 in Figure 16, with one of the gears of said train meshing with the gear 242 and the other gear of said train meshing with an annular gear 261 fixed to the tubular hub 26I. The closure caps positioned on the table 260 are guided by the walls 256 relative to a pair of channels extending in a spiral or cochleary path from the periphery of said table 260 to the opening in the tubular hub portion 26I which constitutes a discharge opening or chute. The cochleary channels are formed by a pair of strips 

